System and Method for Implementing Device Identification Addresses to Resist Tracking

Abstract

A system and method for altering a device identification address in response to various criteria to hinder tracking of the device location. One version of the system uses the physical location of the device as a criteria for manipulating the device address in locations that are not recognizable by stored location information and returning the identification address to a preset address in locations that are recognizable. A second version of the invention uses a pair of identification addresses which when recognized together provide a bases for using a given identification address and when not paired together actuates a different identification address to defeat tracking systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising;
 a central processing unit for carrying out the instructions of a computer program,   a primary memory unit for supplying instructions and data to said central processing unit,   a network interface means,   an operating system capable of defining an identification address for said computing device,   location means for receiving information indicative of the physical location of the computing device,   adjusting means responsive to said location means for altering said identification address of said computing device,   and means for coupling the output of said adjusting means to said network interface means,   whereby said network interface means submits an identification address for said computing device that is capable of changing in response to the physical location of said computing device.   
     
     
         2 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , which includes:
 means for permanently storing at least one fixed identification address,   means for associating said one fixed identification address with a given location of said computing device,   sensing means for determining when said computing device is within said given location, and   means responsive to said sensing means to send said one fixed identification address to said network interface means,   whereby said computing device is caused to submit said one fixed identification address when said computing device is within said given location.   
     
     
         3 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 2  which includes:
 identification address generating means having an output capable of creating multiple identification addresses, 
 means for configuring said network interface means utilizing the output of said identification address generating means when said computing device is not within said given location, 
 whereby said computing device is cause to submit said one fixed identification address when said computing device is within said given location and to submit multiple identification addresses when said computing device is not within said given location. 
 
     
     
         4 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said identification address generating means comprises:
 an address randomizer for generating identification addresses at random and a means for selecting an address from said address randomizer and submitting said selected address to said network interface means. 
 
     
     
         5 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said sensing means comprises a filtering means that determines when said computing device is moved from a point outside said given location to a point inside said given location and thereupon to configure said network interface means to utilize said fixed identification address and to determine when said computing device is moved from a point inside said given location to a point outside said given location and thereupon to configure said network interface means to utilize an identification address derived from said identification address generating means,
 whereby the movement of said computing device into said given location results in the configuration of the network interface means with the fixed identification address associated with said given location, and the movement of said computing device out of said given location results in the configuration of said network interface means with one of a multiple of identification addresses. 
 
     
     
         6 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said identification address generating means comprises:
 an address randomizer for generating identification addresses at random and a means for selecting an address from said address randomizer and submitting said selected address to said network interface means. 
 
     
     
         7 . A computing device comprising;
 a central processing unit for carrying out the instructions of a computer program,   a primary memory unit for supplying instructions and data to said central processing unit,   a network interface means for communicating with a device having a remote identification address,   an operating system capable of defining an identification address for said computing device,   storage means for storing at least one pair of identification addresses, one of said pair being a local address associated with said computing device and the other of said pair being associated with a remote device,   means for selecting a given remote identification address,   look up means to determine if the given remote identification address is one address of a pair of addresses stored in said storage means,   switching means having a first output activated by a determination of the look up means that an address pair exists in said storage means that is associated with the given remote identification address and having a second output activated by a determination of said look up means that such an address pair does not exists in said storage means,   means for configuring said network interface means with the local address when said first output of said switching means is activated,   an identification address generating means for generating multiple identification addresses,   means for configuring said network interface means with an output of said identification generating means when said second output of said switching means is activated, and   whereby said network interface means is configured with an identification address for said computing device that is derived from a stored pair of addresses in the case where a stored pair is recognized by said look up means and configured with an identification address derived from said identification address generating means in the case that said look up means fails to locate a stored pair associated with a targeted remote address.   
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising;
 a central processing unit for carrying out the instructions of a computer program,   a primary memory unit for supplying instructions and data to said central processing unit,   a network interface means for communicating with a remote device having a remote identification address,   an operating system capable of defining a local identification address for said computing device,   a storage means for storing and retrieving a pair of identification addresses where one address of said pair represents a remote device and the other address of said pair represents the local address said computing device utilizes when communicating with said remote device,   means for configuring said network interface means with said stored local identification address at times when said computing device is attempting to communicate with said remote device,   whereby said computing device is caused to have a local address as defined by a pair in said storage means.   
     
     
         9 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 8  including:
 means for generating and selecting a new random local identification address and configuring said network interface means with said new address when said computing device is attempting to communicate with a remote device having an identification address not found in said storage means, 
 whereby said computing device is caused to have a local identification address that changes upon attempting to communicate with a remote device having an identification address not found in said storage means. 
 
     
     
         10 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 9  including:
 means for recording in said storage means said new random local identification address as a pair with the identification address of said remote device, 
 whereby said storage means is supplemented with a new pair of identification addresses. 
 
     
     
         11 . A computing device comprising;
 a central processing unit for carrying out the instructions of a computer program,   a primary memory unit for supplying instructions and data to said central processing unit,   a network interface means,   an operating system capable of defining an identification address for said computing device,   means for automatically configuring said network interface means with an assigned local identification address under conditions wherein an assigned local identification address is desirable, and means for automatically configuring said network interface means with a local identification address that is different from said assigned local identification address when the use of said assigned address is undesirable,   whereby the tracking of said computing device by the tracking of its identification address is inhibited.   
     
     
         12 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 11  wherein:
 said means for automatically configuring said network interface means with an assigned local identification address under conditions where an assigned local identification address is desirable includes determining means for determining if said assigned local identification address is one of a pair of identification addresses stored in said computing device, 
 and if it be so determine to configure said network interface means with said assigned local identification address. 
 
     
     
         13 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 11  wherein:
 said means for automatically configuring said network interface means with an assigned local identification address under conditions where an assigned local identification address is desirable 
 includes means for sensing the physical location of said computing device 
 and means for configuring said network interface means with said assigned local identification address when said computing device is physically located within a predetermined physical location. 
 
     
     
         14 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 12  which includes:
 means for generating a new local identification address when said determining means determines that said assigned local identification address is not one of a pair of identification addresses stored in said computing device, 
 and means for configuring said network interface means with said new local identification address. 
 
     
     
         15 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 13  which includes:
 means for randomly selecting a local identification address when said computing device is not within a predetermined physical location 
 and means for configuring said network interface means with said randomly selected local identification address, 
 whereby tracking of said computing device is inhibited. 
 
     
     
         16 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 14  which includes:
 means for storing pairs of identification addresses where one of each pair is a local identification address and the other of said pair is a remote identification address. 
 
     
     
         17 . A computing device in accordance with  claim 15  which includes:
 means for storing indicia of a predetermined physical location 
 and means for determining if said computing device is at an instant of time physically located within the physical location boundaries determined by said indicia, 
 and in the case where it be so determined, means for configuring said network interface means with said assigned local identification address, 
 whereby tracking of said computing device is inhibited. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method of inhibiting tracking of a computer device having an interface means comprising the steps of:
 determining a first criteria for enabling said interface means with an identification address,   determining a second criteria for enabling said interface means with an identification address,   creating a first identifying address for said computing device,   creating a second identifying address for said computing device which is different from said first identifying address,   means for configuring said interface means with said first identifying address using said first criteria, and   means for configuring said interface means with said second identifying address using said second criteria,   Whereby said computing device is caused to have a variable identifying address to thereby inhibit tracking of said device.   
     
     
         19 . A method as described in  claim 18  which includes the step of monitoring the physical location of said computing device, and
 wherein said first criteria is information pertaining to a predetermined physical location of said computing device, and 
 wherein said second criteria is information pertaining to a location of said computing device which is different from said predetermined location, 
 whereby said computing device is caused to have an identifying address that is variable and dependent on the physical location of said device. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method as described in  claim 18  which includes the step of creating at least one pair of identifying addresses,
 wherein said first criteria is information that said computing device is attempting to communicate with a remote device having an identifying address corresponding to one of said pair of identifying addresses, and 
 wherein said second criteria is information that said computing device is attempting to communicate with a remote device having an identifying address which does not correspond one of said pair of identifying addresses, 
 whereby said computing device is caused to have a variable identification address depending on the remote device to which communication by said computing device is being attempted.